May 27, 2011
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By Pat Salvas
UCFAthletics.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (UCFAthletics.com) - With the weather a little bit better than the first day of competition, the UCF track & field team continued its weekend at the NCAA East Preliminary Round Friday, hosted by Indiana at Robert C. Haugh Track. The day was highlighted by all three of the Knights in the national quarterfinals of the 100 meters advancing to the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa June 8-11.
"Today was a better day," head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert said. "We had some of the ladies move on to nationals in some events and some move on to run again tomorrow in others. It's a good sign that after yesterday we were able to rebound and put together some solid races that will keep our season going after this weekend.
"We've talked all season about what it takes to be a champion and to have that desire and determination. I think we saw some of that today in our resolve and tenacity to move on."
Freshman Aurieyall Scott advanced with the third-fastest qualifying time Friday afternoon. Scott won her heat in 11.41 to move on to run in Iowa in just her first season with the Knights. Junior Sheila Paul also automatically advanced to move on as she finished third in her heat in 11.51. Paul's time was the eighth-fastest qualifying mark of the day.
The third and final member of the Knights moving on to the NCAA Championships in two weeks in the 100 meters will be freshman Dominique Booker. The first-year sprinter posted the 10th-best time of the afternoon as she crossed the line in 11.53.
Those three will also move on to Saturday's national quarterfinals in the 200 meters as all three advanced out of their preliminary heats Friday. Scott qualified with the third-best time of the day, running a 23.24 to win her heat, while Booker (9th, 23.71) and Paul (11th, 23.77) also automatically move on to Saturday night's quarterfinal heats. Lynne Layne will not move on as she ran a 24.17 to finish 26th.
UCF also saw two more advance to Saturday's quarterfinals, this time in the 100-meter hurdles. Junior Jackie Coward posted the sixth-fastest qualifying mark in the event as she ran a 13.46 to win her heat. She will be joined Saturday by Karessa Farley, who ran a 13.72 to qualify 18th overall.
Senior Mica Wimberly was the third member of the Knights to run in the race, but just missed qualifying by one spot as she placed 25th overall in 13.89.
Freshman Sandy Jean and Coward represented the Knights in the 400-meter hurdles. Jean just missed her own UCF freshman record in the event by five-hundredths of a second as she ran a 59.89 to finish 17th Friday. Coward was 18th in 1:00.26 as both failed to advance to the next round. Coward led her heat until she clipped the 10th hurdle and stumbled over the finish line, costing her a chance to move on.
Saturday marks the final day in Bloomington for the Knights. UCF will see its 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay teams compete as well as the quarterfinals of the 100-meter hurdles and the 200 meters.
UCF Track and Field
2011 NCAA East Preliminary Round - May 27, 2011
Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex - Bloomington, Ind.
100-Meter Hurdles
Preliminaries
6. Jackie Coward, 13.46 (-0.1)Q
18. Karessa Farley, 13.72 (-0.6)Q
25. Mica Wimberly, 13.89 (-0.7)
400-Merter Hurdles
National Quarterfinals
17. Sandy Jean, 59.89
18. Jackie Coward, 1:00.26
100 Meters
National Quarterfinals
3. Aurieyall Scott, 11.41 (+0.8)Q
8. Sheila Paul, 11.51 (+1.0)Q
10. Dominique Booker, 11.53 (+1.0)q
200 Meters
Preliminaries
3. Aurieyall Scott, 23.24 (+0.0)Q
9. Dominique Booker, 23.71 (+0.0)Q
11. Sheila Paul, 23.77 (-0.7)Q
26. Lynne Layne, 24.17 (+0.8)
Key
Q - qualified automatically
q - qualified
m -meet record
! - Personal Record
# - Freshman Record
^ - School Record
w - wind aided